Five Thai nationals who captured Hamas returned to Thailand on Sunday for more than a year, reuniting with their tearful families at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Returns, dressed in winter jackets, welcomed the emotional hugs of their families.
“We are all deeply touched to return to our birthplace … to stand here,” said Pongsak Thaenna, one of the returnees. “I don’t know what else to say, we’re all really grateful.”
According to the Israeli authorities, the Hamas militants abducted at least 240 people, including Israelis and foreign nationals, in an attack in October 2023 in southern Israel. During the attack, Hamas Gunmen killed 41 Thais and abducted 30 Thai workers. Later that year, the first group of Thai hostages was returned.
The Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongs, who escorted the hostages from Israel, expressed relief on their return. “This is emotionally … to return to the embrace of your families,” he said. “We never gave up and that was the fruit of that.”
Prior to the conflict, approximately 30,000 Thai citizens worked in the agricultural sector of Israeli, making them one of the largest migrant working groups in the country. Almost 9,000 Thaiors were returned after the attack.
Workers primarily come from Thai northeast region, areas consisting of villages and agricultural communities that are among the poorest in the country.
The Thai Foreign Ministry said Hamas still believed that a Thai citizen would capture.
“We still have hope and continue to work to bring them back,” Maris said, adding that this includes the bodies of the two dead Thai nationals.
Hamas released 3 Israeli and five Thai nationals in a chaotic situation in the handover of hostages in Gaza, which encouraged Israel to briefly delay more than 100 Palestinian prisoners.
